Washington Injury Law Blog

A 28-year old man died Monday night in a motorcycle crash in Lynnwood, Washington. According to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the man crashed his Harley Davidson into a concrete sign post at the intersection of 140th Street SW and 64th Ave. W shortly before 8 pm. The man was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene.

The risk of injury in motorcycles accidents is much greater than car accidents.  The metal that surrounds car passengers is designed to protect the them from injury as much as possible. Motorcycles do not have this available. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), per vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists are about 21 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash and four times as likely to be injured. (NHTSA, 2001).

The wind in your hair and bugs in your teeth is what draws many people to ride motorcycles in the first place. The added danger is an acceptable risk for may bike riders.

I rode a motorcycle for many years. I had a ninja style street bike that went way to fast for a 19 year old to be driving. My mother thought I’d kill myself for sure, she even went so far as to donate extra blood just in case. Thanks Mom! Luckily, I never crashed by bike and needed to tap into her private stock of blood bank reserves. One of the things that I did do was always, and I mean always, always, always wore my helmet.

Motorcyclist are required by Washington law to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, moped, scooter or other motorized cycle. The law specifically says in RCW 46.37.530 that:

“(c) For any person to operate or ride upon a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or moped on a state highway, county road, or city street unless wearing upon his or her head a motorcycle helmet except when the vehicle is an antique motor-driven cycle or automobile that is licensed as a motorcycle or when the vehicle is equipped with seat belts and roll bars approved by the state patrol. The motorcycle helmet neck or chin strap must be fastened securely while the motorcycle or motor-driven cycle is in motion. Persons operating electric-assisted bicycles shall comply with all laws and regulations related to the use of bicycle helmets;”

The risk of death in a motorcycle accident increases 29 percent when you fail to wear a helmet. (NHTSA, 2001). Doctors and nurses I know who work in Hospital ERs call motorcycles “donorcycles” due to the high rate of death they see when riders are in motorcycle accidents. In 2006, 65% of fatally injured motorcycle riders were not wearing a helmet in states without all-rider helmet laws, compared with only 13% in states with all-rider helmet laws. (NHTSA, 2007). Washington has an all-rider helmet law. Helmets are also 67% effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcycle riders. (NHTSA, 2001).

Do yourself and your family a favor and wear your helmet when riding your motorcycle. You mean too much to your family to risk your life unnecessarily.

If you are in a Washington motorcycle accident that was caused by another person’s negligence you should contact an experienced Washington injury attorney as soon as possible. Injuries in motorcycle accidents are often severe and quick action is often necessary to make sure the accident scene is properly investigated and facts documented. Feel free to contact me if you find yourself injured following a motorcycle accident.